Feasibility and safety of oxygen saturation remote monitoring in COVID-19: A descriptive research

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic created an urgent need to implement digital health solutions for remote clinical management of infected patients who could be monitored at home. Since the first wave, the “A. Gemelli” Polyclinic in Rome supported the Lazio Region with a digital health program (SatCov) to monitor at home newly diagnosed COVID-19 patients, or after an early discharge from the COVID units. A digital application and a wireless oximeter were provided to patients. Oxygen saturation, heart rate and body temperature were monitored at least twice a day, for at least 14 consecutive days.Clinicians personalized their remote assistance defining specific alerts for each patient and could plan video-consultation with the patient and/or require a timely hospitalization in a dedicated COVID unit if necessary. Objectives: The aim of this research was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the oxygen saturation telemonitoring in COVID-19 patients. To cover these aspects, primary endpoints were expressed as the adherence to the remote monitoring and the hospitalization ratio in the overall telemonitored population. Results: At the end of December 2020, 105 patients have been enrolled and followed remotely. The study population had acceptable adherence to telemonitoring, with more than 85% of measurements sent out of the total of those required by the protocol. Only 3 patients required hospitalization, indicating that telemonitoring is feasible in patients with COVID-19 and could be helpful in reducing both unnecessary hospitalizations and duration of hospital stay.